Lebanese political science professor Ghassan Salame has been appointed UN envoy to war-torn Libya after an unusually delayed and fractious appointment process.
The former Lebanese culture minister replaces German diplomat Martin Kobler after months of delay and is the 29th candidate considered for the job by UN secretary general Antonio Guterres and his predecessor, Ban Ki-moon.
The appointment needed approval from all 15 members of the UN Security Council.
In February the United States blocked Mr Guterres’ preferred candidate, former Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad, with America’s UN ambassador Nikki Haley saying: “For too long the UN has been unfairly biased in favour of the Palestinian Authority to the detriment of our allies in Israel.”
Two months later it was Russia’s turn to nix a candidate – the dual American-German World Food Programme official Richard Wilcox, who had worked as director of UN affairs in the Clinton White House. Russia gave no reason for the decision, but sources at the UN said Moscow thought he lacked experience for the job.
In Mr Salame, the UN has finally found a candidate acceptable to all member states, and he has a wealth of experience, having worked as special Middle East adviser with two former UN secretaries-general, Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon.
While others among the 29 candidates considered for the job labelled Libya an “impossible” assignment, Mr Salame has spent years working in and on intricately complicated war zones that appeared broken beyond repair. Although a Christian, he chose to live for seven years in Muslim-majority west Beirut during Lebanon’s brutal 1975-1990 civil war, a time when religious differences often led to deaths. In 2003 he served as the political adviser to the UN’s mission in Iraq after the US invasion and subsequent occupation.
But despite his resume, Libya remains a daunting conflict to tackle.
The Libyan civil war is between forces of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli and the rival House of Representatives (HOR) parliament in the eastern town of Tobruk and has brought chaos and suffering. The UN says 400,000 of Libya’s 6.5 million population have been displaced by fighting.
A sign of the chaos is that while Mr Salame has the job of leading peace talks, the UN regards Libya as so dangerous that for security reasons he will be based, like Mr Kobler, in neighbouring Tunisia.
The new envoy’s challenge is to find a way for the GNA, installed in Tripoli last March, to make a deal with the Tobruk parliament and form a unity government.
For the moment the military balance in the civil war is with the HOR, which may make it reluctant to negotiate a compromise with the GNA.
Parliament’s army commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar began a chain of victories against forces aligned with the GNA last September when he captured four key central oil ports. That victory gave the HOR control of the so-called Oil Crescent, home to the bulk of the country’s crude production. Last month, HOR forces captured key airbases in south-west Libya and the central region of Jufra, giving the HOR domination of most of Libya’s interior.
A second problem for Mr Salame is that the UN itself is split on Libya, and he will need to find consensus among member states for any new peace initiative. While most western powers including the United States support the GNA, several states, notably Russia, Egypt and the UAE, continue to recognise the HOR, while France has given HOR forces military support.
One positive sign for Mr Salame is that Libya’s oil industry has managed to increase production despite the war. Exports are predicted to hit one million barrels a day by the end of July, the highest level since 2014, according to Mustafa Sanallah, chairman of the National Oil Corporation.
Another positive is that a framework for peace was agreed in May, after talks hosted by Egypt and the UAE. The GNA prime minister Fayez Al Serraj and Field Marshal Haftar agreed, in principle, to a peace commission composed of 15 members from the GNA and 15 from the HOR.
* with additional reporting by Josh Wood
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 0
Liverpool 2 (Mane 50', 54')
Red card: Andreas Christensen (Chelsea)
Man of the match: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Other key dates
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Finals draw: December 2
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Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Fighting with My Family
Director: Stephen Merchant
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh, Thomas Whilley, Tori Ellen Ross, Jack Lowden, Olivia Bernstone, Elroy Powell
Four stars
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814